烟花

If you ever get bored with fireworks go to china. I have to admit I have grown to despise fireworks in the United States. It is probably because I was spoiled as a child and saw fireworks frequently while in Spain for their patron saint week, and the fireworks in the US, combined with the cutbacks cities have made in their spending on fireworks for fireworks. After seeing so many as a child, I began to realize that they all seemed to be the same thing, just big loud flashing lights of various colors. Needless to say, in the past few years I have been disappointed with the fireworks, which ruins holidays like July fourth and New Years. However coming to Beijing has completely reversed my opinion on fireworks. Since I arrived a little over a week ago it has felt like I have been living in Baghdad. Everyday I hear some large explosions. As the Chinese new years drew closer the frequency and noise of the fireworks has increased. It all culminated on the day before Chinese new years. It felt if Beijing had actually turned into a war zone. Throughout the day there was continuous explosions. Every block I went I say people setting off fireworks, and I am not talking about the simple sparklers, wildcats, smokers, and worms that we got to play with. They were setting off the huge kind that we usually leave to the city. Basically every neighborhood shoots off as much fireworks as a single city shoots off in the fourth of July. It is something incredible to witness. I was fortunate enough to spend the afternoon eating a dinner with a Chinese family and they told us that the fireworks are all bought privately and that none of it is put on by the government. As midnight drew nearer more and more fireworks were going off. From about 11 until 1 am fireworks were going off nonstop. Not only were the fireworks going off but also car alarms were adding to the celebrations. If your car alarm didn’t go off New Years Eve, it was probably a sign you needed to reconsider your alarm system.